Apparatus for dehydrating oil.



H. R. POLLAK.

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING 01L. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1914.

WITNESSES;

' Patented Jan. 22, 191&

V i 4%, Ma; 7n MW;

A TTORIVE Y R. R. POLLAK.

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING OIL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1914- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented J an. 22, 1918.

INVENTOR, liobew 13. 1 1,

WITNESSES ATTORNEY ran ermine ra'rnnr WEWW,

ROBERT E. POLLAK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, camroama.

arraaa'rus non nnnrnnarme OIL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT R. PoLLAK, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in ApparatusforDehydrating Oil, of which thefollowing is Oil flowing from wells isgenerally mixed with water, either free, or forming with the Water anemulsion, or partly free, and partly emulsified.

Free Water is easily settled from the oil by gravitation.

unusually large, to erect a topping plant and crack the oil.

But it has been found that the refining quality of the oil is impairedby its being cracked, topped or even boiled too long.

The object of my invention is to provide a process and apparatus fordehydrating oil as rapidly as possible and at as low a temperature aspossible to avoid destructive dis-' itillations of the oil, andfurthermore to provide an apparatus the action of which .can be'variedaccording to the proportion of the emulsive contents and flow of the oilto be treated:

In the accompanying'drawin Figure 1 is a side elevation, certain partsein shown in vertical section of my improve apparatus; Fig. 2 is a lanview, certain parts being shown'in horizontal section; Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a brokendetail front view of the part shown in Fi 2.

The emulsion from the wile is stored in tanks to insure a steady flow ofuniform volume. From said tanks, the emulsion is 0011-, ducted by a pipe1 to a coi12 a cooling Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1914.

Patented Jan. ea, rare.

Serial lilo. M9462.

' chamber 3, at the bottomof a vessel 4:, a pipe 5 leading from saidcoil to a receiving tank 6. Said tank is shaped to facilitate theseparation of the free water, if any, from the emulsion, said free watersettling in a lower reduced portion 7 of said tank and flowingtherefrominto a pipe 8 leading to a height slightly above the level ofthe oil outlet from the tank 6. From said .pipe 8 leads a U-shaped pipe9 in which is a valve 11, the height of theoutlet of said pipe 9 beingsuc that a column of water therein, above the water line in thereceiving tank 6, bal ances a column of oil in said tank above saidwater line. On. the first admission of oil into said tank the valve 11is closed, and when a sufficient amount of water has accumulated in thebottom of the'taiik the valve 11 is opened, and the water isautomatically drained oil from the tank, as it settles therein, .byrunning out of the open end of the pipe 9. In the upper portion of saidreceiving tank is an open' top trough 12, from which leads a pipe 13,passing through the side of the tank with an oi1-tight joint,

and entering thetop 14 of the vessel 4. The

sides of said top are hinged, as shown at 16, Fig. 2, to permit readyaccess to the interior of the vessel, and also to prevent the pressuretherein becoming excessive. The emulsified oil flowing into said vesseldrops on to a partition 17, having perforations around whichextend-upwardly open-ended tubes 18, all of the same height, so that the-oil rises to the level of the tops of said tubes and dripstherethrough. It then falls on to a horizontal series of perforatedplates 19 which facilitate thesubsequent dehydration of, the oil bbreaking it up into small globules. T ese globules fall onto coils ofsteam pipes 21, the successive vertical layers of said pi es beingarranged in staggered relation w1th each other, so as to form asubstantially continuous heating surface. Said pipes are supplied withsteam from a header 22 and are controlled by individual hand valves 23,and also by diaphragm valves 24: controlled by compressed air pipes 25,the pressure in which is regulated by a thermostat 26.

By the heat of said pipes a considerable portion of the Water isdrivenofi in-the form, of steam from the emulsified. Oil? Said.

portion of the vessel 4, beneath which drip plates are coils of steampipes 29, and in flowing down said dripplates, or dripping through theperforations therein, the emulsified particles are exposed to the dryingaction of an ascending current of hot dry air, obtained in the manner tobe presently described. After passing the lowermost drip plate, theoilfcollects on a troughshaped portion 31, which is double-sheeted andlined with insulating material, and passes through an opening 32 in saidtrough-shaped partition 31 into said cooling chamber 3, in which it iscooled by the comparatively cold oil in the cooling pipe 2, at the sametime that the oil in the pipe 2 is heated by the oil in the chamber 3.From said cooling chamber the oil flows by a pipe 33 to an upper portionof a discharge tank 34. Any water that may collect on the sloping bottom36 of the cooling chamber is drawn off from time to time by a pipe 37.

38 indicates a centrifugal blower rotated at a variable speed by a conepulley 39 from any suitable source of power. By said blower, air isdischarged into a conduit 41, passing thence through an auxiliarycondensing chamber 42, containing cooling coils 43, carrying cold wateror any other cooling medium, thence passing byf'a conduit ate in whichis a se'ries of reheatlng coils 46,thence being deflected downwardiy bybaflies or louvers 47 on to the slop i g partition 31, thence around andover the series of plates 27, thence through bafiies orlouvers 48 into aconduit 51, thence through a condenser 52, having therein two series ofcooling coils 53,

55, thence into a conduit 54, regulated by a gate 56, and thence to theinlet mouth of the blower 38, by which it is again projected in the samepath as before. B means of the condenser 42 nearly all tii'e residualmoisture is condensed from the air before. it is reheated by thecoils/16, so that the air is projected into the vaporizing chamber 28hot and dry, taking'up nearly all the resid-' ual moisture in theemulsion and:- also some of the more volatile constituents 20f the oilin the form'of vapor. A valved pipe 50 Figs. 1, 2, discharges a smallquant t of steam direct into t e lower-portion o the vaporizin chamber28,.so .as to provide a blanket of air, more or less saturated withsteam, which will prevent excessive evaporation of oil, and allow theaqueous articles of the emulsion to free themselves rom the,

oil so that the water particles will unite at the bottom of thevaporizing chamber. The vapors of oil and water on arriving at thecondenser 52am for the most part condensed, the water being firstcondensed, at

57 and thence into a chamber 58, and the oil I vapor being condensed ata lower temperature by the coils 55 and 'flowing on to a sloping bottom59 and thence into a chamber 61. A movable partition 62 enables thelocation of the plane of separation oftlie water and oil to be variedaccording to the conditions. The water and oil are drawn off by ipes 63and'65.

In the sameway the oil and water condensed fromtheir vapors in theauxiliarycondenser 42 descend into a. tank 64 and are drawn off by pipeconnections 66 and 67.

The light oils drawnfrom the chambers 61 and 164 are conducted by a pipe68 to the lower portion of the discharge tank 34'below the inlet intosaid tank of the heavier oils and are thoroughly commingled with saidheavy oils in said discharge tank. They are drawn ofl' from saiddischarge tank by pipes 69, 71, similar to the pipes 8 and 9 alreadydescribed.

By means of the automatic variation of the magnitude of the heatingsurface of the steam pipe 21 into which steam is permitted to enter bythe thermostat 26, and by the regulation of the magnitude of the currentof hot air, either by means of the gate or v the speed of the blower,the apparatus is adapted for use with varying volumes of oil enteringthe vaporizing chamber.

The condensers are also regulated so as to vary the cooling effect to'conform with variations in the vaporizing effect of the vaporizingchamber and to variations in the magnitude of the current from theblower.

The entire sides of the vaporizing cham bar above the cooling chamber 13are made.

air-tight and entirely removable for inspection of the coils, plates andthe like, and provided with the necessary means for inspecting theinterior. The top of the condenser 18 is also hinged to permit of auto-'matic relief from any possible excess of pressure.

The flow of oil is effected by gravitation wherever-practical andwherever back pressure is impossible, otherwise pumps are used, locatedin the most advantageous sitions.

Thermometers 72 are-placed in locations easy of access, wheretemperatures should be observed that indicate the necessity. for varyingthe working conditions.

It Wlll be observed that by means of ,this apparatus the oil leaving thedischarge tanks may be at any temperature desired within reasonablelimits, which fact facilitates the shipment of the oil, and avoidspreheating in the ordinary shipping tanks,

which is injurious to said tanks. It willalsc be observed that boilingof the oil, and

nae 4,271

the direct action of flame on vessels containing the oil are eliminated.

It will be observed that since, in this apparatus, the air fordehydration is circulated and used over and over again, and

substantially no fresh air is drawn in, the

, prising a vessel, a vertical series of inclined,

minimum amount of oxidation of the oil by the'air takes place. Iclaim 1. An apparatus for dehydrating oil comperforated drip plates, apipe for conducting fluid into said vessel below said plates, acentrifugal blower, a conduit leading from said blower to said vessel, acondenser in said conduit, means in a further portion of the conduit forheating air therein, a conduit leading from an upper portion ofthevessel to the blower, two condensers in different portions ofsaidconduit and individual chambers for receiving the liquids condensedthereby.

2. An apparatus for dehydratin oil comprising a vessel, a verticalseries of inclined, perforated drip plates, coils of steam pipes beneaththe several plates, a steam pipe for conducting steam into said vesselbelow said plates, a centrifugal blower, a conduit leading from saidblower to said vessel, a condenser in said conduit, means in a furtherportion of the conduit for heating air therein, a conduit leading froman upper portion of the vessel to the blower, two condensers indifl'erent portions of said conduit and in- ,dividualchambers forreceiving the liquids condensed thereby.

3. An apparatus for dehydrating oil comprising a vessel, a verticalseries of inclined, perforated drip plates, coils of steam pipes beneaththe several plates, a centrifugal blower, a conduit leading from saidblower to said vessel, a condenser. in said conduit, means in a furtherportionof the conduit for heating air therein, a conduit leading from anupper portion of the vessel to the V blower, two condensers in differentportions of said conduit and individual chambers for receiving theliquids condensed thereby.

t. An apparatus for dehydrating oil comprisin a vessel, coils of steampipes" therein, a vertical series of inclined, perforated dri platesbelow said steam pipes in said vesse coils of steam pipes beneath theseveral plates, a. steam pipe for conducting steam into said vesselbelow said plates,a centrifugal blower, a conduit leading from saidblower to said vessel, a condenser in said conduit, means in a furtherportion of the conduit for heating air therein. a conduit lead-' ingfrom an upper ortion of the vessel to the blower, two con ensers indifierent por tions of said conduit and individual chambers forreceiving the liquids condensed thereby.

. prisin 5. An apparatus for dehydrating oil comprising a vessel, coilsof steam pipes arranged therein in staggered relation with each other, avertical series of inclined, per- 1 forated drip plates below said steampipesin said vessel, coils of steam pipes beneath the several plates, acentrifugal blower, a con cluit leading from said blower to said vessel,a condenser in said conduit, means in a furin said vessel, coils ofsteam pipes beneath the several plates, a steam pipe for conductingsteam into said vessel below said plates, a centrifugal blower, meansfor regulating the speed of said blower, a conduit leading from saidblower to said vessel, a condenser in said conduit, means in a furtherportion of the conduit for heating air therein, a conduit leading froman upper portion of the vessel to the blower, two condensers indifferent portions of said conduit and individual chambers for receivingthe liquids condensed thereby.

7. An apparatus for dehydrating oil comprising a vessel, coils of steampipes arranged therein in staggered relation with each other,thermostatic means for controlling the supply of steam to said pipes, avertical series of inclined, perforated drip plates below said steampipes in said vessel, coils of steam pipes beneath the aeveral plates, acentrifugal blower, in us for ingulating the speed of said blower, aconduit leading from said blower to said vessel, a condenser in saidconduit, means in a further portion of the conduit for heating airtherein, a conduit leading from an upper portion of the vessel to theblower, two condensers in difi'erent portions of said conduit andindividual chambers for receiving the liquids condensed thereby.

S. An apparatus for dehydrating oil coma vessel, the top of which has ahinge portion, a perforated partition in said vessel. a horizontalseries of perforated plates on to which the oil-drips from saidperforations, coils of steam pipes arranged in staggered relation witheach other on to which said oil flows, means for controlling the supplyof steam to said pipes by hand, thermostatic means for controlling saidsteam supply, a vertical series of inclined, I

perforated drip plates below said steam pipes in said vessel, coils ofsteam pipes be neath the several plates, a centrifugal blower, dividualchambers for receiving the liquids "10 means for regulatin the speed ofsaid condensed thereby.

blower, a conduit lea ing from said blower In testimony whereof I havehereunto set to said vessel above the cooling chamber, a my hand in thepresence of two subscribing 5 condenser 1n said conduit, means in afurther witnesses.

portion of the conduit for heating air there- ROBERT R. POLLAK. m, aconduit leading from an upper portion Witnesses: of the vessel to theblower, two condensers F. M. WRIGHT,

in difiierent portions of said conduit and in- D. B. RICHARDS.

